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Introduction to Chain Maille Earrings
Chain maille is a two thousand-year-old art form originally used to create garments worn for protection by warriors from Europe, the Middle East and the Orient. Modern approaches use these classical patterns of cold-connected jump rings for sculpture and jewelry. For these non-traditional applications, hundreds of new patterns have been invented.
Our chain maille classes and workshops teach students how to transform some of these classic patterns of connected rings into striking pieces of jewelry. This workshop focuses on creating the four pairs of sterling silver chain maille earrings, shown above, using the Byzantine weave and the Mobius (aka: Flower or Rosette) unit.
The Byzantine weave pattern is a classic jewelry weave that serves as the basis for other more complicated weaves. Its versatility opens up a world of design options. It is often paired with the Mobius unit to create the classic Byzantine Rose pattern. Students will learn how to construct the Byzantine weave and the Mobius unit by making 4 pairs of sterling silver earrings in class. Students will receive a color handout documenting each step of the process so that they can recreate these designs at home.
This class is intended for beginning chain maille students with no prior chain maille experience, but more advanced students may also enjoy this course.
Meet the instructor
Jewelry designer and author, Karen Karon, has been weaving maille for well over a decade. She teaches chain maille and scale maille classes and workshops at Metalwerx School for Jewelry and Metal Arts, at local venues, and also provides private chain maille/scale maille instruction. In addition, Karen is a certified PMC (Precious Metal Clay) artisan. Karen has written articles for Art Jewelry, Bead Style, Bead&Button and Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazines and is the author of Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop and Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop, both published by Interweave. Her jewelry can be purchased at Loveday in West Concord, MA.
See Karen’s work on her website (karenkaron.com) or visit her on Facebook and Instagram.
Materials & Tools
A $55 materials fee includes plenty of sterling silver jump rings, ear wires and beads to complete 4 pairs of earrings at class as well as a detailed colored handout documenting each step of the process for each weave shown at class.
Please note that Metalwerx has pliers and optivisors on hand if students do not already have these tools.
- 2 pairs of pliers with smooth jaws - (I feel that flat nose pliers are best suited for chain maille, but you can use what you feel most comfortable with – any combination of 2 chain nose, bent chain nose or flat nose pliers.)
- Optivisor or other form of magnification if necessary